Public-domain classic · Classic Literature

The Awakening

Kate Chopin (1850–1904)

During a summer on Grand Isle, Edna Pontellier begins to question the roles expected of her as a wife and mother in New Orleans society.

First published 1899 · 39 chapters · about 50,000 words · United States

Start Reading

Rights and source

Public domain. First published 1899; every creator of the text and cover art died by 1909 (Kate Chopin, author, d. 1904; Peder Severin Krøyer, cover painting, d. 1909). Public domain in the United States (published before 1931) and in countries whose copyright term is life plus 70 years or less, including Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union and Nigeria. Text and cover from Standard Ebooks, whose own work is dedicated to the public domain (CC0 1.0).

Rights checked 2026-10-23. Source: Standard Ebooks. Edition prepared by Standard Ebooks and dedicated to the public domain (CC0 1.0). Cover: painting by Peder Severin Krøyer (d. 1909), public domain.

A public-domain work by a historical author. Kate Chopin is not a contributor to The Insight Docket, and this book is not part of any contributor's readership or earnings.

Contents